Meralco bucks meltdown, survives Ginebra for do-or-die

The Meralco Bolts averted a season-ending meltdown at the hands of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, as they managed an 83-80 escape act to force a do-or-die Game 5 in their PBA Philippine Cup semifinals series on Wednesday, November 25.

The ageless Reynel Hugnatan continued to turn back the clock in the league bubble as he buried the go-ahead jumper in the dying seconds before Raymond Almazan sealed it with a game-winning block.

With the nail-biting win, the Bolts’ quest for their first-ever conference finals appearance is still alive, while the Gin Kings also try to get back to the biggest stage for the first time in 3 years.

Hugnatan dropped a conference-high 19 points, 12 in the 4th, off the bench to go with 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and a 3-of-4 clip from three.

Usual key scorers Cliff Hodge and Chris Newsome also did their part, and chipped in 16 points apiece.

“I’m sure the players are very, very happy to get a chance to go into Game 5, and get a chance to go to the finals,” said head coach Norman Black.

“Of course, it’s going to be a tough task against Ginebra to beat them in Game 5, but at the same time, we just have to go back, and watch the game to figure out what it’s gonna take to get the job done.”

Following a couple of missed shots in the final minute, the Bolts got another break after a botched Ginebra inbound play with 20.1 ticks remaining, which Hugnatan used to calmly sink a go-ahead long two for the 81-80 lead.

Off the timeout, Scottie Thompson and Stanley Pringle hooked up under the bucket for a nice cut and short stab, but Almazan was right there for the game-winning block. 

Newsome then put the finishing touches with a breakaway layup on the other end.

Almazan, who has been battling injuries all conference long, got 11 points, 3 rebounds, and of course, one crucial block to seal the deal in Game 4.

Coming off a 46-31 lead near the start of the 3rd quarter, Meralco suddenly fell apart at the seams on defense. Ginebra mounted a massive 20-4 attack from that 15-point hole to take a 51-50 advantage following a Jared Dillinger triple at the 4:17 mark.

Prince Caperal even stretched the lead to 6, 64-58, following a triple in the waning seconds of the 3rd, before the Bolts found their bearings back. Both teams eventually traded buckets down to the wire in the final frame.

After a quiet first 3 quarters, Japeth Aguilar came alive in the clutch, and gave Ginebra the lead one final time, 80-79, after a short-range jumper in the last 1:25 of regulation.

Hugnatan and Allein Maliksi got their looks for possible go-ahead buckets, but their shots clanked off in the waning seconds, which led to Almazan’s game-winning stop.

Ginebra top gun Stanley Pringle had 18 points in the loss, followed by Dillinger’s 15 markers off the bench.

The Scores

Meralco 83 – Hugnatan 19, Hodge 16, Newsome 16, Almazan 11, Maliksi 8, Amer 4, Pinto 3, Black 2, Quinto 2, Jamito 2, Jackson 0, Caram 0.

Ginebra 80 – Pringle 18, Dillinger 15, Thompson 13, Aguilar 12, Tenorio 8, Caperal 8, Mariano 6, Tolentino 0, Devance 0.

Quarters: 26-21, 44-31, 60-64, 83-80.

– Rappler.com